Improvement in clutches for feeding mechanisms for sewing-machines



UNrrsn Sierras RMENT Grrren.

EPHRAIM MODONAL'D, OF BOSTON, AND NATHAN H. COLE, OF SWAMPSOOTT, MASSACH USETTS.

IMPRUVENIENT IN CLUTCHES FUR FEEDING MECHANISNIS FR SEWING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters latent No. 116,618, dated July 4, 1871.

To all lwhom 'it may concern:

Be it known that we, lGrnnAiM McloNALn, of Boston, in the county of Sutl'olk, and NATHAN H. OGLE, of Swampscott, in the county of Essex, both in the State of lIass-acliusetts, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in the Feeding Mechanism for Sewing-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to thc accompanying drawing making part of this specification, in which- Figure l represents an end elevation of the feed-wheel of a sewing-machine with our improvements applied thereto. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the former ligure. Fig. 3 represents a detached view of the operating friction-clutch, anda portion of the rim or vllange l of the wheel.

This invention relates to the mechanism for operatin the feed-wheel A of a sewing-maclline, and to the construction and arrangement ofthe arm B, which carries the feed-operating lever l), whereby a positive and very simple., cheap, and convenient fcedanotiou is obtained, by compound leverage, giving great force of action, with little liability of w .aring or injuring the wheel.

In the drawving, A represents the feed-wheel, having a projecting flange or rim, n', for raising friction on the wheel. An arm, B, is pivoted to the center of the axis of the wheel, or arranged upon the hub C or the stud which supports the wheel in the machine. This arm B extends outward a suitable distance to receive the feed-ope 'ating lever l) in its slotted end, the lever being' pivoted to the arm or secured by a screw, g, on which it swings. Near the Vtop end ofthe lever l) the lixed arni f of the friction-clutch E is pivoted, and the clutch, at one side thereof, is slotted or grooved for the reception of the ilange d of the wheel, which nearly fills the groove, but which revolves freely therein while the lever l) makes one motion forward toward the wheel, or is moved in that direction. W'hen the lastnamed lever receives its baclnvard or opposite Inotion it swin or oscillates the clutch, causing the shoulders at each side of the groove therein to engage with opposite sides of the flange d, the clutch at the same time receiving a forward or upward motion by the moving arm B, which carries it, and, while thus engaged with the flange, imparts rotary motion to the wheel by throwing it forward, and successive movements of the arm, the lever' I), and the clutch,

keep the wheel in motion, each forward motion ofthe lever, accompanied by a downward motion of the arm B assisted by the spring' lli, releasing the clutch from contact with the ilangc of the wheel, and each backward motion of the lever, accompanied by an upward motion of the arm, causing the clutch to engage therewith and carry or move the wheel, one position of the lever and clutch being' shown in full lines, and the other position of the lever and clutch, the latter as engaged with the lian ge d of the wheel, being shown in dotted lilies in Figs. l and 3 of the dra-wing.

The downward motion of the arm B is regulated or arrested by a curved finger, F, depending from the arm, a-nd arranged to come in contact with some stationary object in the range of its lower end l1.. ln addition to the motions be fore described it will be understood that, as the lever l) moves forward or toward the wheel the inner end of the clutch falls, or is depressed by the spring ll downward onto the rising hub or projection e on the top of the arm. At this point or position of the clutch the shoulders of the groove in the latter are fully released from the liange (I, which allows the arm B to fall, or to be depressed by a spring set on the outer nib n, on the end of the arm, and ready for the upward motion to be repeated by the action ofthe lever l) and its connections.

The groove in the clutch maybe wider or narrower, and thereby allow the clutch to move a greater or lesser distance when releasing or engaging with the iiange d to operate the feed, and the required extent of motion of the clutch is regulated by the height or rise ot' the hub c on the arm.

lVe claim as our inventionl. The arm B, constructed as described, with a rising hub, c, and arranged to swing on the center oi" the axis ot' the wheel, in the Inanner and for the purpose set forth.

2. The clutch E, constructed and applied as described, in combination with and pivoted to the lever l), and operating in connection with the rising hub e on the arm B, and with the flange d ofthe wheel, in the manner and for the purpose speciiicd.

E'PHRAIM MGDONALD.

- NATHAN H. COLE.

NVit-n esses JOHN E. CRANE, M. M. TrDD. 

